The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2022-03-03-AC-min RECEIVED 03/03/2022 AC Minutes 2022 1Ill ii-, 153 Ill u iii Minutes f �' Town of Lexington Appropriation Committee (AC) "' March 3, 2022 LEMNGTON MA Place and Time: Remote Participation: in accordance with Section 20 of Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 "An Act Relative to Extending Certain COVID-19 Measures Adopted During the State of Emergency", communication took place via a Zoom teleconferencing session that was open to the public; 7:30 p.m. Members Present: Glenn Parker, Chair; Sanjay Padaki, Vice-Chair; Alan Levine, Secretary; Anil Ahuja; John Bartenstein; Eric Michelson; Meg Muckenhoupt; Lily Manhua Yan; Carolyn Kosnoff, Assistant Town Manager, Finance (non-voting, ex officio) Member(s)Absent: None Other Attendees: David Kanter, Capital Expenditures Committee liaison; Deepika Sawhney, School Committee Mr. Parker called the meeting to order at 7:31 p.m., reviewed the authorization for meeting remotely, and stated that the meeting was being recorded for the purpose of creating minutes. Announcements and Liaison Reports Ms. Sawhney reported that the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) has invited the Town to participate in its process for rebuilding/renovating Lexington High School. Ms. Kosnoff reported that Lexington's free cash and water/sewer fund retained earnings balances were recently certified by the State. The water/sewer balances relate to data needed for Article 13: Appropriate for Water System Improvements and Article 14: Appropriate for Wastewater System Improvements. Additionally, the amortization schedules for the pension fund with and without the proposed cost-of-living base increase are available. She plans to provide the data for those articles in the near future. Discussion of Articles with Financial Implications for the 2022-1 Special Town Meeting (STM) and the 2022 Annual Town Meeting (ATM) that Need Additional Information and/or Need a Vote The following 2022 ATM and STM-1 articles were discussed. Some additional votes were taken. • ATM Article 5: Appropriate FY2023 Enterprise Funds Budgets: More information is needed from Ms. Kosnoff before voting. • ATM Article 6: Senior Services Program: This is on the consent agenda, but the existing balances are still needed to write material for the report. • ATM Article 7: Appropriate for Climate Action Plan: Ms. Muckenhoupt is completing the write up for this article. Ms. Kosnoff explained that$30,000 of the funding request is being repurposed from a FY2018 Getting to Net Zero appropriation that is being closed out; the balance is from free cash. Some grant money will also be used for funding this plan. • ATM Article 8: Appropriate for Comprehensive Plan Implementation: Mr. Michelson is still waiting for some answers to questions that he submitted to staff. More information is needed before voting. • ATM Article 10: Appropriate for the FY2023 Community Preservation Committee (CPC) Operating Budget and CPA Projects: 1 03/03/2022 AC Minutes (e) Center Playground Bathrooms and Maintenance Building Renovation: The design is being reconsidered. Voting was deferred (k)LexHAB — 116 Vine Street Construction Funds: Mr. Parker reported that the cost estimate for this project has gone from $5.3 million to $5.7 million. The CPC has not yet taken a position on this $400,000 increase. Ms. Kosnoff reported that the CPC has available funds, but if the CPC doesn't approve the increase, there are funds in the Affordable Housing Stabilization Fund that could be used, and/or it may be possible to use American Rescue Plan Act funds. This was left pending. • ATM Article 16: Appropriate for Public Facilities Capital Projects (h) Town Pool Water Heater Replacement: Mr. Parker and Ms. Kosnoff explained that the appropriation request under Article 16(h)was originally for a fossil fuel operated replacement water heater, but it is now going to be for the design of an electric option, a project unlikely to need all of the $31,000 being requested. If the current water heater fails during this process, operating funds would be used to repair or replace it. Transitioning to an electric hot water heater is expected to cost substantially more than continuing with a fossil fuel operated heater. A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of Article 16(h). The motion was approved by roll call vote. VOTE: 8-0 • ATM Article 18: Rescind Prior Borrowing Authorizations: Ms. Kosnoff reported that there will be authorizations to rescind; she will provide the information. This article is on the consent agenda. • ATM Article 19: Establish, Amend, Dissolve and Appropriate To and From Specified Stabilization Funds: Ms. Kosnoff agreed to provide the information, which is needed before voting. • ATM Article 20: Appropriate for Prior Years' Bills: Bay State, a family-owned energy consulting company that retired during FY2021, failed to issue its final invoice until January 2022. The services were provided, and $6,261.75 is owed. The funds will be taken from a set aside of$200,000 for current year needs. This article is on the consent agenda. • ATM Article 21: Amend FY2022 Operating, Enterprise and Community Preservation Act (CPA)Budgets: Ms. Kosnoff reported on three components that will be part of this article: ➢ A request for approximately $20,000 to hold a June 2022 referendum vote on funding the new police station. ➢ A request to reallocate the recently received CPA State funds because the town received $790,261 (45.5% State match rather than 30%) more than anticipated. ➢ A request that approximately $130,000 from the Recreation Enterprise retained earnings be moved into the Reserve Fund to reimburse for a Reserve Fund transfer request that is to be made by Melissa Battite, Recreation and Community Programs Director. Getting the funds from the Reserve Fund will allow the Recreation Department to replace and/or repair equipment that sustained water damage at the golf course before the start of the golf season. A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of this article, contingent on getting the exact numbers. The motion was approved. VOTE: 8-0 • ATM Article 22: Authorized Capital Improvements: It is expected that this article will be indefinitely postponed (IP'd). This article is on the consent agenda. • ATM Article 23: Appropriate from Debt Service Stabilization Fund: Ms. Kosnoff explained that FY2023 is the last year that an appropriation will be taken from this fund for the final debt service payment, which is greater than the amount in this fund. Because interest 2 03/03/2022 AC Minutes continues to accrue in the account, she is working on the logistics to determine the best way to dissolve the fund. This is on the consent agenda. • ATM Article 25: Appropriate for Worthen Road Recreation and Education District Land Use Concept Plan (Citizen Petition): Ms. Sawhney reported that the SB and School Committee are meeting on March 9 to discuss the MSBA process that will be starting in the near future. There may be a STM 2022-2 to request funds for a high school feasibility study. Although the $1.8 million identified for this study was estimated some years ago, Ms. Kosnoff reported that staff believes it is adequate for the study, which would cover the issues identified in Article 25. If those issues are covered, then this article may be IP'd. There were comments about the possible need for additional funding. Voting was deferred. • ATM Article 26: Appropriate for Nexus Studies (Citizen Petition): Mr. Ahuj a is preparing material for this article. Voting was deferred. • STM 2022-1 Article 2: Police Station Replacement: Ms. Kosnoff reported that the appropriation request will likely be reduced from $32.8 million to $32.4 million based on a revised estimate made after value engineering studies were done. Other than making the building solar ready, her understanding is that this does not include installation of solar panels, which would be presented in a separate article at a later town meeting if they are to be pursued. She added that it is expected that the Hosmer House would either be demolished or moved and placed on cribbing. Mr. Parker identified March 9 as the next meeting date for this Committee, with voting on this Committee's final report to the STM-1 and ATM scheduled for March 16. Minutes of Prior Meetings No draft minutes were available for approval. A motion was made and seconded to adjourn at 9:07 p.m. The motion was approved. VOTE: 8-0 Respectfully submitted, Sara Arnold Approved: March 9, 2022 Exhibits • Agenda, posted by Mr. Parker • Town of Lexington ATM Warrant, March 7, 2022 3